Gardens within one hour of London

Goddards

Abinger, Surrey. Built by Lutyens as a holiday home for ‘ladies of small means’, it can be rented today, through the Landmark Trust.

Hatchlands Park

Guildford, Surrey. House with a unique collection of keyboard instruments, including pianos owned, maintained or used by great composers, such as Purcell, Chopin, Elgar, Mahler, JC Bach and Liszt. The garden and park were designed by Repton in 1800. Gertrude Jekyll’s parterre dates from 1913.

Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Jekyll and Lutyens features in garden. Lutyens was married to Lady Emily Lytton, daughter of the owner, The Earl of Lytton. Extensive restoration and embellishment of the garden has been done over the last 15 years. Knebworth is also well known for major musical events in the park from time to time.

Godalming, Surrey (Gertrude Jekyll’s home). 10 acres of garden set in a woodland setting, recently restored by the owners to her original plans. Garden open 3 or 4 days per annum, but not the house, for which Edwin Lutyens was the architect. Opening details from the ‘Yellow book‘, published each February, of the National Gardens Scheme.

Phillips Memorial Park

At Godalming, Gertrude Jekyll’s home town. In 1914 Hugh Thackeray Turner constructed the Phillips Memorial to commemorate the memory of John George Phillips, a local man, who was the Chief Wireless Telegraphist on the RMS Titanic. Gertrude Jeykll designed the planting around this memorial and the local council hopes to restore the garden to her original design, in time for April 2012, the centenary of the sinking of RMS Titanic. www.waverley.gov.uk

University of Bedfordshire at Luton. Built by the architect, Sir Ernest George, Putteridge Bury is set in 500 acres of countryside; it has a garden designed by Edwin Lutyens and planted by Gertrude Jekyll. Hertfordshire Gardens Trust has faithfully restored the garden, which is maintained by the University.